Rotary pump



June 7, 1932. A, w BURKS 1,861,837 ROTARY RUMP Original Filed July 12, 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 j v 4 gwvwntoz V I .flrf/zur 14 Burks I m 2 Q I v whamm June 7, 1932 A. w. BURKS ROTARY PUMP Original Filed July 12, 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 31mm 11 T01,

A. w. BURKS f June 7, 1932.

ROTARY PUMP s Sheets-Sheet 3- Patented June 7, 1932 ARTHUR W. BURKS, F DECATUR, ILLWO ROTARY PUMP Application filed July 12, 1928, Serial The present invention relates to pumps of the rotary type comprising a casing forming a fluid passage or raceway, and a rotor therein provided with a series of blades or buckets which impel the fluid through the raceway, the casing having an inlet opening and an outlet opening in communication with the raceway.

An object of the invention is to provide a in pump of this type which has an increased capacity both in volume and pressure with out increasing either the size of the buckets or the raceway.

The invention relates to the type of pump 1 in which the water, as it passes through a fluid raceway, is repeatedly engaged by the buckets of the rotor, and thereby there is cumulatively built up, during the passage of the fluid through the raceway, relatively high dill pressure. A pump of this type is disclosed in my Patent No. 1,619,286, granted March 1, 19:27. in pumps of this type it has heretofore been thought necessary, in order to ob tain the high centrifugal and vacuum efiects desired, to subject the water to the action of the rotor for as great a distance as possible around the periphery of the rotor. For this reason, the raceway has been made a substantially complete circle extending circumferentially from a suitable inlet to a suitable outlet, the inlet and outlet being located adjacent one another and separated by a barrier,

I have found that it is not necessary to subject the water to the action of the rotor for as great a distance as possible around the periphery of the rotor in order to obtain the high pressure and centrifugal efiects desired, at least when there is employed a rotor bucket construction of the character disclosed in my aforesaid Patent No. 1,619,286, and that it is not necessary to have the inlet and outlet of the raceway located adjacent one another.

An object of the present invention, therem fore, is to utilize this discovery and to increase the volume or delivery capacit oi the pump by utilizing the space provide by the shortened racewa to afiord a second raceway through wluch the water may be impelled simultaneously with the passage of additional water through the first raceway.

hl'o. 121,6'l. Renewed July 36, 19%9.

A further object of the invention is to provide a relatively high pressure andv high capacity pump of this type which may be economically operated and is of simple construction having relatively few parts for adjustas ment and repair.

In carrying out the invention, ll locate the inlet and outlet of each raceway at substantially diametrically spaced points. That is to say, instead of having the inlet and outlet so of the raceway adjacent one another, I locate them substantially as far apart as possible, and approximately 180. apart. Thereby ll am permitted to utilize the remainin part of the circle for a second raceway, and% prom vide a means for directing the water simultaneously into each raceway, whereby the rotor operates simultaneously upon two streams of water passing through two raceways,

Broadly, the invention consists in utilizing a rotor having an annular series of buckets arranged to impel fluid through a plurality of raceways. he raceways are arranged, preferably, in a common lane extending transversely of the rotor axis and also at the side of the rotor, due to the position of the blades in one lateral face of the rotor. The raceways are cut ofi from one another, and each has a separate inlet and outlet. It is also to preferred that the raceways together constitute substantially a circle which is substantially complete, except for cut-ofis which serve to separate the raceways from one another. In other words, the raceways are 1% curved on substantially a common arc, i. e. with radii of uniform length, and are dis-' posed with their ends juxtaposed.

lln the accompanying drawings, showing one preferred embodiment of the invention:

Figure l is a front elevational view.

Figure 2 is a side elevational view.

Figure 3 is view similar to Figure 1, showing parts in section, Figure a is a sectional view taken through the inlet and outlet chambers illustrated in- Figure L Figure 5 is a lace view of the casing sec tion having the rway.

Figure 6 is a face view of a modified form of racewa containing casing action, and

Figure is a perspective of the casing section shown in Figure 6.

In the drawings, wherein like numerals designate corresponding parts throughout, 10 indicates a casing section of disk-like formation and having a centrally disposed chamber 11 for the reception of a rotor 12 which is mounted upon a drive shaft 13, the latter having a cone-shaped hub 14 which fits into a correspondingly shaped opening in the rotor; a nut 15 upon the end of the shaft fixedly secures the rotor in position,

The casing section 10 has cooperating there- -with a complemental section 16, secured thereto by means of boltsll'. The casing 16 cooperates with the rotor to form a passage for the fluid and preferably is grooved on one face to provide a plurality of raceways 18, 19, facing an annular series of blades 20, forming buckets on the rotor for impelling fiuid through the casing. The raceway 18 has an inlet opening 21 and an outlet opening 22, the latter bein spaced by means of a web 23 from the in ct opening 24 of the raceway 19 which conducts the fluid to an outlet opening 25. The inlet and outlet openings extend throu h the casing section 16 to the opposite side thereof, and cooperate with inlet and outlet passages later described.

The outlet opening 25 is separated from the inlet opening 21 of the raceway 18 by means of a web 23, the two webs 23 and23' fitting substantially flush against the outer edges of the blades 20 and the face of the rotor to prevent passa e of fluid from one raceway to the other. is will be noted, the two racewa s are longitudinally curved on substantia l a common are or, in other words, have radii of uniform length. Moreover, they are arranged end to end with both ends of each raceway juxtaposed to or facing the ends of the other raceway. Thus, the raceways form together substantially a complete circle corresponding to the circular plane of the series of blades on the rotor.

It will be observed that the blades 20 are disposed outwardly from the axis of the rotor, and that the rotor and easing makes a substantially liquid-tight seal at opposite sides of the raceways and series of blades. This seal is, preferably, ellected by means or interfittin ribs and grooves 26, such as are disclosed and claimed in my co-pending application, referred to below, although 0 viously the use of any other sealing means is within the sco e of the present'invention.

It will be 1m erstood that fluid is introduced into the casing at the opposite side of the casing section 16 from that in which the raceways are formed; the fluid passes through the inlet openings 21, 24, and is impelled through the raceways 18, 19, to their respective outlets 22, .25, by means of the single aecaear series of blades which traverses the raceways. As shown in Figure 1, a supply pipe S has lateral branches 29, 30, which are connected with nipples 31 upon the exterior of the casing section 16.

One of the outlet openings, in the present instance the opening 25, communicates directly with the external chamber 32, which is arranged to receive the discharged fluid and to retain a whirling body of the same, whereby the pockets of the rotor are prevented from becoming air filled. The outletopening 22 is also illustrated as having associated therewith a chamber 32, although such a chamber may be dispensed with, it desirable for any reason. The chambers have tapering outlet portions 33, 33, and from the latter to fluid is conducted by means of a pipe 34 to the chamber 32, where it meets the fluid therein, which has been discharged through the outlet opening 25. It will be understood that the pipe 34 may be conducted in any suitable manner to the outlet pipe 36, which is connected with the chamber portion 33, although when the chamber 32 is dispensed with, as above suggested, it is preferable to connect the outlet opening 22 and the chamber 32, as illustrated. It is thought unnecessary to describe further the function and operation of the chambers 32, 32, since they are described fully and claimed in my Patent No. 1,686,549, granted Gctober 9th, 1928, which shows a chamber similarly arranged at the outlet opening of a pump having a single raceway.

Referring to Figures 6 and 7 there is shown a. casing section 16 corresponding to the casing section 16 of Figure 1 and having raceways 39, 40. The raceway 39 has an inlet opening ,41 and an outlet opening 42, which communicates with a chamber 43 adapted to receive the fiuid discharged through the outlet opening 42 and to retain the same in a whirling body. The raceway 40 receives fluid through an inlet 44, and at 11( 45 discharges into a conduit 46 extending substantially diametrically across the face of the section and opening into the chamber 43. It will be observed that the two inlet openings 44, 41 are connected by means of a transverse conduit 47, so that a single supply pipe joined to the inlet 44 will serve to supply fluid to both raceways. Further, a single discharge pipe connected with the chamber 43 through a tapering outlet portion, such as illustrated at 33, 33' in Figure 2, will receive the fluid impelled by the rotor, which cooperates with both raceways. An important feature of the casing section shown in Figures 6 and 7 is its integral construction. The entire device may be formed as a single casting, including the casing proper 16, as well as the various conduits 46, 47 In its general features ofconstruction, it is similar to the form illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, but,

as will be understood, the conduit 46, cor

eer-s37 responding to the conduit 34 of Figure 2, and the conduit 47, corresponding to that portion of the pipe S connecting the two sup ply openings of the former figures, are both formed as integral parts of the casing section.

It is thought unnecessary to describe any further details of the pump, since the gist of the present invention consists in providing with a rotor having a series of blades a plurality of raceways each, preferably, disposed in a common plane extending transversely of the rotor axis. The inlet and outlet of each raceway are separated approximately 180, instead of beinglocated adjacent one another, as in pumps of this character which 'have been heretofore produced, referring,

for example, to the pump of my Patent No. 1,619,286.

A further feature of the invention consists in providing the raceways with independent inlets and outlets with the raceways being sealed inwardly to prevent leakage of fluid radially inwardly as it passes therethrough.

Obviously, the principal features of the invention may be embodied in pumps differing materially from that 'shown in the accompanying drawings, without departing from the invention which is defined in the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a pump of the class described, a rotor having an annular series of blades, said rotor closing the spaces between said blades at their inner ends to provide a series of buckets and a casing having a plurality of curved fluid raceways each associated with said series of blades and adapted to have fluid impelled therethrough by the blades and an outlet for each of said raceways adapted to discharge fluid from the pump.

2. In a pump of the class described, a rotor having an annular series of blades, said rotor closing the spaces between said blades at their inner ends to provide a series of buckets and a casing having a plurality of curved fluid raceways each associated with said series of blades and adapted to have fluid impelled therethrough by the blades, said raceways being sealed radially inwardly therefrom and being arranged in a common plane extending through the rotor axis and an outlet for each of said raceways adapted to discharge fluid from the pump.

3. In a pump of the class described, a rotor having an annular series of blades spaced substantially from its axis, a casing having a plurality of fluid raceways associated with said series of blades, and disposed in a common plane extending through the axis of said rotor, said casing and rotor making a substantially liquid tight seal whereby to prevent the flow of liquid radially inward from said raceways.

4. In a pump of the class described, a rotor having an annular series of blades spaced substantially from its aXis, a casing having a plurality of curved fluid raceways associated with said series of blades, and disposed to form together substantially a circle in a common plane extending through the axis of said rotor, said casing and rotor making a substantially liquid tight seal whereby to prevent the flow of liquid radially inward from said raceways.

5. In a pump of the class described, a rotor having an annular series of blades spaced substantially from its axis, a casing having a plurality of fluid raceways associated with said series of blades, and disposed in a common plane extending through the axis of said rotor, said casing and rotor making a substantially liquid tight seal whereby to prevent the flow of liquid radially inward from said raceways, and the casing having a separate inlet and outlet for each raceway.

6. In a pump of the class described, a rotor having an annular series of blades spaced substantially from its axis, a casing having a plurality of longitudinally arcuate fluid raceways associated with said series of blades and disposed at one side of the rotor with their ends juxtaposed, said casing and rotor making a substantially liquid tight seal whereby to prevent the flow of liquid radially inward from said raceways.

7. In a pump of the class described, a rotor having an annular series of blades spaced substantially from its axis, a casing having a plurality of curved fluid raceways associated with said series of blades and disposed with their ends juxtaposed at one side of the rotor and longitudinally curved on a substantially common arc, whereby the raceways lie in a common circular plane, said casing and rotor making a substantially liquid tight seal adapted to prevent the flow of liquid radially inward from said raceways.

8. In a pump of the class described, a rotor having an annular series of blades spaced substantially from its axis, a casing having a plurality of curved grooves therein, each adapted to form a raceway and provided with an inlet and an outlet for each raceway, the outlets each leading from the pump, the rotor being arranged in association with said raceways whereby the series of blades impel fluid through said raceways between the inlet and outlet of each raceway, means sealing each raceway whereby to resist flow of fluid radially inwardly therefrom and means interposed between the inlets and outlets of the different raceways whereby to prevent the passage of fluid between the raceways, said means being adapted to overlie at least two blades at all times.

9. In a pump of the class described, a rotor having an annular series of blades spaced substantially from its axis, a casing having a plurality of curved fluid raceways operaare tively associated with said blades and formed with an inlet and an outlet for each raceway,

the raceways being cut ofl from communication with one another whereby each raceway discharges from the pump, said raceways being arranged so that the fluid therein is impelled therethrough by repeated engagement with the .blades as the rotor is operated.

10. In a pump of the class described, a rotor having an annular series of blades spaced substantially from its axis, a casing having a plurality of curved fluid raceways operatively associated with said blades and formed with an inlet and an outlet for each raceway, the raceways being longitudinally curved on a substantially common are and arranged with their ends substantially juxtaposed and cut off from communication with one another whereby each raceway discharges from the pump, said raceways being arranged so that the fluid therein is impelled therethrough by repeated engagement with the blades as the rotor is operated, and means for resisting flow of fluid radially inwardly'from said raceways.

11. in a pump of the class described, a rotor having an annular series of blades spaced substantially from its axis, a casing having a plurality of curved fluid raceways operatively associated with said blades and formed with an inlet and an outlet for each raceway, the raceways being cut ofl' from communication with one another whereby each raceway discharges from the pump, said raceways being arranged so that the fluid therein is impelled therethrough by repeated engagement with the blades as the rotor is operated, said casing having a common discharge opening for receiving the fluid discharged from said raceway outlets.

12. In a pump of the class described, a rotor having an annular series of blades spaced substantially from its axis, a casing having a plurality of curved fluid raceways operatively associated with said blades and formed with an inlet and an outlet for each raceway, the raceways being cut ofl from communication with one another whereby each raceway discharges from the pump, said raceways being arranged whereby the fluid therein is impelled therethrough by repeated engagement with the blades as the rotor is operated, said casing having a common discharge opening for receiving the fluid discharged from said raceway outlets and a common inlet having branches communicating with each of said raceway inlet openings' 13. In a pump of the class described, a rotor having an annular series of blades spaced substantially from its axis, a casing having a plurality of curved fluid raceways operatively associated with said blades and formed with an inlet and an outlet for each raceway, the raceways being arranged with tsetse? their ends juxtaposed and cut ofl' from communication with one another whereby each raceway discharges from the pump, said race-' ways being arranged so that the fluid therein is impelled therethrough by repeated engagement with the blades as the rotor is operated, and means for resisting flow of fluid radially inwardly from said raceways, said casing having a common discharge opening for receiving the fluid discharged from. said raceway outlets and a common inlet havin branches communicating with each of sai raceway inlet openings.

14. In a pump of the class described, a rotor having an annular series of blades w spaced substantially from its axis, the blades forming buckets therebetween, a casing associated with said rotor, and a plurality-of curved fluid raceways each having an inlet and an outlet, said raceways having radii of substantially the same length, and being substantially cut ofl from communication with one another whereby each raceway discharges from the pump, the rotor and easing making a substantially water-tight joint radially inwardly and outwardly from said raceway whereby to resist radially inward and outward flow oi the fluid therefrom.

15. In a pump of the class described, a rotor having an annular series of blades spaced substantially from its axis and also spaced inwardly from the rotor periphery, the blades forming buckets therebetween, a casing associated with said rotor, and a plurality of curved fluid raceways each having an inlet and an outlet and arranged in a common circular plane and being substantially cut oil from communication with one another whereby each raceway discharges from the pump, the rotor and easing making a sub- 1% stantially water-tight joint radially inwardly from said raceway whereby to resist radially inward flow of the fluid therefrom.

16. Ina pump or the class described, a rotor having an annular series of blades spaced substantially from its axis, the blades forming buckets therebetween, a casing associated with said rotor, and a plurality of j curved fluid raceways each having an inlet and an outlet and substantially cut oil from communication with one another whereby each raceway discharges from the pump, said raceways being arranged in a common plane extending through the rotor axis and having radii of curvature of substantially the same 120 length, whereby to form parts of the same circle, the rotor and easing making a substantially water-tight joint radially inwardly from said raceway, whereby to resist radially inward flow of the fluid therefrom. i

17. In a pump of the class described, a rotor having an annular series of blades spaced substantially from its axis and also spaced inwardly from the rotor periphery,

the blades forming buckets therebetween, a 13;

tially cut off from communication with one another whereby each raceway discharges from a ing both of which extend through the section to the opposite face, a rotor having an annuthe pump, the rotor and casing making a substantially water-tight joint radially inwardly from said racewaywhereby to resist radially inward flow of the fluid therefrom, and means at each outlet for maintaining, by the action of the rotor, a whirling body of liquid adapted to separate gas and liquid by centrifugal action.

18. In a pump of the class described, a rotor having an annular series of blades spaced substantially from its axis, and also spaced inwardly from the rotor periphery, the blades forming buckets therebetween, a casing section associated with said rotor, said section having formed in one face thereof and disposed with their ends juxtaposed in a substantially common circle a plurality of curved fluid raceways eachhaving an inlet and an outlet and substantially cut off from communication with one another whereby each raceway discharges from the pump, said raceways being arranged in a common plane extending through the rotor axis, the rotor and casing making a substantially water-tight joint radially inwardly from said raceway whereby to resist radially. inward flow of the fluid therefrom, and means at each outlet for maintaining, by the action of the rotor,

a whirling body of liquid adapted to separate gas and liquid by centrifugal action.

19. In a pump of the class described, a rotor having on one side face 'and'spaced inwardly from its periphery a marginal annular series of buckets, a casing section formed on one face with a plurality of curved fluid raceways each complemental to said series of buckets and cut off from communication with one another, said raceways being arranged with their ends juxtaposed in a common are, a separate inlet and outlet for each raceway, the rotor and easing making a substantially fluid-tight joint radially inwardly, whereby to resist radially inward flow of liquid.

20. In a pump of the class described, a pump raceway section having on one lateral face two longitudinally arcuate grooves each having an inlet opening and an outlet openlar series of bucketsadapted to traverse both of' said grooves and a pair of cut-offs on said 1 face substantially flush with said buckets each adaptedto overlie the buckets and prevent substantial flow of liquid past the outlet of either groove.

21. Inv a pump of the class described, a

pump raceway section having on one lateral v I face two longitudinally arcuate grooves each having an inlet opening'and an outlet open ing both of which extend through the section to the opposite face, a rotor having an annular series of buckets adapted to traverse both of said groves and a pair of cut-offs on said face substantially flush with said bucket each adapted to overlie the buckets and prevent substantial flow of liquid pastthe outlet of tion to the opposite face, a rotor having an annular series of buckets adapted to traverse both of said grooves and a air of cut-offs on said face substantially ush with said bucket, each adapted to overlie the buckets and prevent substantial flow of liquid past the outlet of either groove, a supply line connection at said opposite face for conducting fluid to both of said inlet openings, a pocket at each of said discharge openings adapted to form a'liquid air-separating whirlpool, and a discharge connection in communication with both of said pockets, said discharge connection communicating with one pocket through the other pocket.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set m hand.

y ARTHUR W. BURKS. 

